Former Abia State Governor and Senator, Orji Uzor Kalu, has revealed that he was once involved in international arms trading, disclosing that he sold weapons to individuals and countries willing to pay for them.
Kalu made the revelation during an interview with Arise News, where he spoke about his business activities outside Nigeria and his relationships with prominent African political leaders.
During the interview, the former governor was directly asked whether he had previously operated as an arms dealer. He responded in the affirmative, confirming that selling weapons was once among his major business activities.
When asked whether he was indeed an arms dealer, Kalu simply replied, “Yes.”
He explained that his decision to leave the business followed intervention from his parents, who reportedly insisted that he should stop dealing in weapons.
“My mother and my father came and said I must stop, and I stopped,” he said.
Orji Kalu Says Making Money Was His Priority
The former governor also spoke candidly about his motivation for engaging in the arms business, dismissing suggestions that he was particularly concerned about how the weapons would eventually be used.
According to Kalu, his primary objective at the time was to make money rather than concern himself with the consequences of the weapons sales.
“I was selling guns to make money. Whether they blow [up] people was not my business,” he stated.
His comments have drawn attention to his account of his former business activities, particularly given the security concerns associated with the international arms trade and the proliferation of small weapons.
Kalu Denies Specifically Supplying Arms to ANC
During the interview, Kalu was also questioned about whether he supplied weapons to the African National Congress (ANC) during its struggle against apartheid in South Africa.
However, he denied that the organisation was his specific customer, explaining that his business was not restricted to any particular group.
“No, I was selling to anybody who wants to buy,” he said.
He further maintained that his arms business operated internationally and that he was willing to sell weapons to any interested buyer with the financial capacity to purchase them.
Former Governor Speaks About Gaddafi Relationship
Kalu was also asked whether he had sold weapons to former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
In response, the senator reiterated that he sold arms to anyone who could afford them during the period he was involved in the business.
“To anybody that has money to buy, when I was selling,” he said.
He subsequently described Gaddafi as “a good man” and added, “May he rest in peace.”
Kalu Declines to Reveal His Arms Suppliers
The interviewer also sought clarification about where Kalu obtained the weapons he sold and the identities of the individuals or organisations that supplied them.
The question was particularly significant given longstanding concerns about the circulation of illegal small arms and light weapons across Nigeria and other parts of Africa.
However, Kalu declined to provide details about his suppliers, describing the information as his private business.
He did not disclose the identities of the people or organisations from whom he sourced the weapons.
How Kalu Built Relationships With African Leaders
The revelation emerged as Kalu recounted how his business activities and international engagements helped him establish relationships with several influential African political figures.
Among the personalities he mentioned were former South African presidents Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma.
His account provided further insight into his past international business dealings and the connections he developed with prominent figures across the continent.
Kalu’s comments have renewed public interest in his business history, particularly his admission that he previously traded in weapons across international markets before eventually abandoning the business following pressure from his parents.
Note: The article reports Kalu’s statements during the Arise News interview and does not independently establish the identities of his customers, suppliers or specific arms transactions.